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Story
September 8, 1866
The Wheeling Daily Register
Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A political commentary critiques a Democratic platform resolution from Philadelphia denying states' right to secede but treating rebels as belligerents under international law, questioning the basis for treason charges against Southern leaders like Jefferson Davis.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
A Dilemma.
In the platform of the 'Southern Sneaks,' adopted at Philadelphia, is the following resolution:
8. Resolved, That there is no right, political, legal, or constitutional, in any State to secede or withdraw from the Union; but they may by wicked and unauthorized revolution and force sever the relations which they have sustained to the Union, and when they do they assume the attitude of public enemies, at war with the United States, and subject themselves to all the rules and principles of international law and the laws of war applicable to belligerents, according to modern usage.
Now, if, as this resolution seems intended to assert, the Southern States have placed themselves in the attitude of public enemies and 'subjected themselves to all the rules and principles of international law and the laws of war applicable to belligerents,' what becomes of the charge of 'treason,' about which we have heard so much, and which was so often upon the lips of the radicals composing the Convention? If the principles of international law are applicable in the dealings of the Federal Government with the Southern States, where will the radicals get the right to hang Jeff. Davis, or any other Southern man for his political offenses? International law recognizes no such right.
In the platform of the 'Southern Sneaks,' adopted at Philadelphia, is the following resolution:
8. Resolved, That there is no right, political, legal, or constitutional, in any State to secede or withdraw from the Union; but they may by wicked and unauthorized revolution and force sever the relations which they have sustained to the Union, and when they do they assume the attitude of public enemies, at war with the United States, and subject themselves to all the rules and principles of international law and the laws of war applicable to belligerents, according to modern usage.
Now, if, as this resolution seems intended to assert, the Southern States have placed themselves in the attitude of public enemies and 'subjected themselves to all the rules and principles of international law and the laws of war applicable to belligerents,' what becomes of the charge of 'treason,' about which we have heard so much, and which was so often upon the lips of the radicals composing the Convention? If the principles of international law are applicable in the dealings of the Federal Government with the Southern States, where will the radicals get the right to hang Jeff. Davis, or any other Southern man for his political offenses? International law recognizes no such right.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Secession
Treason
International Law
Belligerents
Jeff Davis
Civil War
What entities or persons were involved?
Jeff. Davis
Where did it happen?
Philadelphia
Story Details
Key Persons
Jeff. Davis
Location
Philadelphia
Story Details
The resolution asserts no legal right to secession but treats revolutionary acts as making states belligerents under international law; the commentary questions the consistency of applying treason charges and executions to Southern leaders like Jeff. Davis under such principles.